3 way shower valve, thats all I need. What.....where.....???

[WellDigger]

Something so simple has to be so difficult, I swear. Im so bent I can barley type this

<rant off>


So, I want to have on/off separate from (not built into the same handle, can be same body) hot/cold and then a separate 3 way 3 handle shower valve so I can adjust 3 shower heads at will. I have tried google search with every phrase I can think of and nothing comes up for exactly what I want ESPECIALLY the 3 handle 3 way valve.

Is the 3 handle 3 way valve called something special? What search term do I use to find it? Is there at least 1 known good brand that has one with an "average" price? I found some off name pieces at $500. For that price, I will literally machine my own!

Thanks

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Lots of brands make shower valves with a temperature control and or volume control on one handle and a separate diverter or transfer valve on another handle built into the same body. Most will do either 3 or 6 functions. A 3 function valve will operate 2 independent outputs alone or mix the 2 for the 3rd function. The 6 function valve will do any of the functions individually or mix 2 of them together. Getting the order of the functions sequenced correctly is imperative if you want specific functions mixed.

However, finding a valve that will allow you to run all of the functions simultaneously is going to be more difficult. Some of the digital control shower valves will allow (or did in 2019 when I installed a system that would output 14gpm out of 4 separate functions) all at the same time or any in combination. U by Moen is one that I've installed like that. I believe Grohe makes some of their push button valves like this as well which are analog.

And likely if $500 is your top end price, you will be machining your own. The rough in valves are going to be somewhere around $250 and the trim is not included.

So just to check.. my price for the R22000 is around $175. Delta stryke trim is about $280... So just under your $500 threshold
R2200 rough valve + trim kit T24976-LHP-plus handle kit-H559

**side note** The shower that had the digital controls that could output 14gpm also required a $20k water heater upgrade so I could guarantee the shower could sustain hot water for a full 45 minutes.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[WellDigger]

I know builders dont care about prices, they just tell the client, "hey, this is what they offer, what do you want", but, these appliances are out of control. Easy $500+ for sheet of metal for a 30" linear drain? $500 plus for a few valves that cost maybe $50? Not sure what they are up to strong arming the public, but its kind of sad. That and the fact that they dont have a plethora of choices for a decent price makes it even harder to swallow.

With that said, okay, guess I will have to go make my own, will not be the first time.

Appreciate you taking the time to validate my searches. Thanks and take care.

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

I know builders dont care about prices, they just tell the client, "hey, this is what they offer, what do you want", but, these appliances are out of control. Easy $500+ for sheet of metal for a 30" linear drain? $500 plus for a few valves that cost maybe $50? Not sure what they are up to strong arming the public, but its kind of sad. That and the fact that they dont have a plethora of choices for a decent price makes it even harder to swallow.

With that said, okay, guess I will have to go make my own, will not be the first time.

Appreciate you taking the time to validate my searches. Thanks and take care.

I ammended my initial reply.. I did find a Delta valve and trim that I think meets your criteria for just under the 500 threshold.

my market is stupid.. I just sold a job where changing the 2 shower valves doubled the price of the job from 25 to 50k... just for 2 shower valves!! Another project that just sold.. 6k for an 18x18 handmade bar sink! like wtf..

 

[WellDigger]

I ammended my initial reply.. I did find a Delta valve and trim that I think meets your criteria for just under the 500 threshold.

my market is stupid.. I just sold a job where changing the 2 shower valves doubled the price of the job from 25 to 50k... just for 2 shower valves!! Another project that just sold.. 6k for an 18x18 handmade bar sink! like wtf..

I will take a look into it, but yea, crazy. I know labor will jack up the price as it takes time to sweat in pipes, measure, be precise, etc, but the fixtures are on another level. Yes yes, I know were talking "quality", but, SS metal is SS metal, its graded for a reason. If a flat 6"x 30" stock sheet for a linear drain cost $40 at a warehouse, it cost $500 to stamp it? You can get metal (albiet junk) AND stamped for $40 to your door. So, lets say $60 for the metal (buy ship and stock), $40 to stamp true SS (cant take more than an hour unless they are outside beating it into shape), $50 for machinery costs, $10 for packaging/handling and $15 to your door. Total $175 for the BEST!! Me thinks something is up....

I already came to the conclusion I am going to have to fabricate a 3 way valve by reverse engineering something, or, just cobbling something together before I even posted my bellyaching rant. Might just have to find 3 singles and solder them together. A wall plate will be the "possible" difficult part. Would like to have it all in one plate, but, I might have to use individual covers for a decent price. Will def check your options/ideas, thanks appreciate it.



[/quote]
**side note** The shower that had the digital controls that could output 14gpm also required a $20k water heater upgrade so I could guarantee the shower could sustain hot water for a full 45 minutes.
[\quote]


F*** it, its only money, sign me up!!



P.S. I live in the USA, I registered at work and it runs through a Belgium proxy server, lol.

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

**side note** The shower that had the digital controls that could output 14gpm also required a $20k water heater upgrade so I could guarantee the shower could sustain hot water for a full 45 minutes.
[\quote]


F*** it, its only money, sign me up!!
[/QUOTE]

Dude didn't even blink.. He wanted what he wanted.

We installed another shower valve in a house that had All Marble walls in one bathroom.. every surface was marble. The shower valve was made from 3 columns of brass that were just ported out. It must have weighed 300 pounds. Took 2 of us to hoist it into the wall to mount. They didn't cast it, just drilled out blocks of brass.

Moen and Delta rough in valves would be my go to for emulating if I were to machine something. Seems pretty simple. 2 ins and 1 out. Then just buy their cartridge for the control.

And then there is a Lot of this on Ebay for less than retail.. found the rough in valve for $100